SIMCOE NORTH – Today Jeff Yurek, Minister of Transportation, and Parliamentary Assistant Kinga Surma announced that the Ontario government is helping 107 municipalities across the province expand or improve their public transit systems with Ontario’s gas tax program.

This year, the province is providing $364 million in gas tax funding to 107 municipalities providing public transit service to 144 communities across Ontario. These communities represent over 92 per cent of Ontario’s total population.

Municipalities in Simcoe North received a total of $815,184 in gas tax funding – the City of Orillia received $548,399, the Town of Midland received $182,611, and the town of Penetanguishene received $84,174 in funding. Simcoe County also received $898,331 in funding.

“This is an important investment,” said MPP Jill Dunlop. “This funding will help upgrading transit infrastructure and increasing accessibility. It could allow municipalities to extend hours of their service or even add more routes. This is great news for all commuters in our riding and will help bring more convenience to daily travel.”

The funding formula was based on a 70/30 split between ridership and population and was developed to strike a fair balance between the needs of large established systems and those of smaller municipalities, while accommodating the special needs of high growth areas. Municipalities receiving gas tax funding must use these funds towards their public transit capital and/or operating expenditures.

“We are investing in public transit to make it a more convenient travel option and attract more riders,” said Yurek. “More public transit will cut through gridlock and get people moving.” Funding for Ontario’s gas tax program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province. The program provides municipalities with two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenues.